Generation Park to bring more than 100,000 jobs to Lake Houston area

By Tamra Santana |
February 19, 2013

A rendering of the Lake District Causeway displays part of Generation Park in the Lake Houston area. The master-planned commercial development will be divided into different districts, some with an urban feel, others with parks and green space.

Construction will soon begin on a new 3,924-acre master-planned commercial development in the Lake Houston area - called Generation Park.

"We expect people to be reporting to work there in the next 18 to 24 months," said Ryan McCord, president of McCord Development Inc., the developer of the property.

Construction will begin in the first and second quarter of this year, McCord said.

"It's going to turn some heads in terms of the level of activity coming to Generation Park," McCord said.

"In another five to 10 years, Generation Park will be accepted as one of Houston's main economic centers," McCord said. "Generation Park will be synonymous with quality and planning in the region. That's really our goal. We are very excited about it."

100,000 jobs

Upon completion of the entire development, McCord expects Generation Park to bring more than 100,000 jobs to the area.

The development, which will have more than 1 million trees, jogging and exercise trails and natural water features, is located at the northeast corner of Beltway 8 and Sam Houston Tollway. Generation Park will target companies focused on reducing the cost of energy.

"We have the opportunity to make a huge influence and our intent is to really raise the bar for what Houstonians will come to expect from new master-planned commercial business parks," McCord said.

"What we've been doing is laying out this framework and articulating the vision to prospective companies that are interested in coming to Generation Park," McCord said.

McCord Development acquired the land more than 20 years ago.

"It is important for the benefit of Houston and the region to be very thoughtful in our planning and do something great out here," McCord said.

"We are feeling the sense of responsibility in the long term. It's a huge piece of property and a huge footprint."

Generation Park is being built with the employees' convenience in mind, McCord said.

"We try to think about it from the ultimate employees' perspective," he said.

"They are going to be driving to work in Generation Park.

"We try to think about what that's going to be like 30 years from now and how can we prevent simple things like traffic congestion."

"We are thinking about how can we shave time off a persons daily drive and locate some of the basic amenities close to their place of work - dining, banking, child development," McCord said. "We are trying to get these services into central hubs to save folks time."

Different districts

In addition, he said, the developers are working to make Generation Park a beautiful environment.

There will be different districts within the park, some with a very urban, energized feel, with tall buildings and restaurants for lunch or after work socializing, and other areas will have parks and green space and opportunities for more private settings.

Convenience and accessibility in the Lake Houston area have helped to continue its trend as one of the fastest growing areas in Houston.

The opening of Beltway 8 has made the area popular with corporate employees who want an easy commute to downtown.